Campbell Newman keeps mouth shut on Hockey comments

THE federal treasurer may have taken an "I am what I am" approach to politics, but the Queensland Premier has stuck to the script.

When asked whether Treasurer Joe Hockey's comment that the fuel excise increase would not hit the economically vulnerable because they "don't have cars or actually drive very far" meant he was out of touch with the electorate, Campbell Newman would not buy in.

Directly.

"Look, this government has worked very hard on one big issue and that is the cost of living," Mr Newman said.

"We know that this is a big issue for people and we have done a whole range of things, like freezing family car registration, like halving announced public transport fare increases that were announced by the former government, like taking $7000 tax off the family home, providing a one-off $80 water rebate. These are things we have done because we know that people are feeling it.

"I think governments have to work very hard and be very conscious of this issue."